Apparatus for operating extension tables



Aug. 23, 1927. l 1,639,825

T. WALL APPARATUS FOR OPERATING EXTENSION TABLES Filed Nov.` 25, 1925 /A// 4//////////////////f ////////////////////A O C Tborrwas.

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATESy PATENT ori-fier..

THOMAS WALL, OF TACOIVIA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T0 GREGORY FURNITURE MFG.

CO., OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON. i

` APPARATUS FOR OPERATING EXTENSION TABLES.

Application mea November 23, 1925. serial no. 70,838.

This invention relates to apparatus for operating extension tables, especially that kind of table in which the normal table top comprises a single structure loosely mounted on the table frame, and extension leaves which are mounted under the said-table top in such manner that, when the table top is lifted a short distance, the said. leaves may be drawn out from und-er the top and are supported from the table frame in the same plane as the said top when it is again lowered to its first position. The objects of this invention are to provide an apparatus which, first, will raise the entiretabletop without tipping it and suiiiciently to permit the extension leaves to be drawn out from, or pushed back, under the said top without scraping on the lower edge thereof as they pass; second, will hold the table top in such elevated position as long as desired without having to hold the operating handle; third, will be easy to operate; fourth, will be simple to make and install; and fifth, is strong and substantial in construction and therefore is not easily damaged.

I `attain these and other objects by the mechanisms, devices and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Y Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations of the operating lever, showing it in the positions when the table top is down and elevated, respectively Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the top-lifting levers;

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections of such a table, showing the top in lowered and raised positions, respectively; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections of such a table in similar positions, Fig. 8 showing one extension leaf drawn out and the other in its stowed position.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Figs. 5 to 8, I will describe the table to which the apparatus is applied. This table comprises the usual frame having legs 1, joined together by side aprons 2 and end aprons 3. The end aprons 3 are joined by a central longitudinal board 4 secured on` top of the said aprons, and preferably of substantially the same thickness as the table top and leaves. This board 4 supports, on its under side, the apparatus about to be described.- The table top 5 rests on top of the board 4 and has two guide.` downward therefromV pins 6 extending through holes in the said board 4, positioned near its ends.. The extension leaves 7 lie on top of the aprons 2 andk 3, beside they said central board 4 and under the saidptop 5. Each leaf 7 has two inclined supporting cantilevers 8 extending' inward therefrom. These cantilevers 8 engage under the yboard 4 and in notches in the side aprons 2 and are of such shape and dimensions as to cause ythe leaves 7 to rise from the plane under the top 5 to the same plane as the said top 5 when they are dirawn out to extended yposition. without scraping their upper surface on the lower edge of the top 5 as they move, itis necessary to lift the table top 5 suliiciently to clear the said extensions, and to hold it in this raised position until the., extensions have been completely drawn out. This is accomplished by means of the following described mechanism.

The operating lever comprises two similar, slightly separated, parallel plates 9, joined together by means of an end pin 10 and a cam pin 11. Each plate 9 is pivoted to a securing lug 12 by means of a pivot pin 13. The pivot pins 13 are. coaxial. The lugs 12 are fastened to the under side of the said central board 4, near its center. An operating rod 14 engages the lower pin 10 and extends therefrom through a suitable hole in one of the end aprons 3 and has a suitable knob or handle 15 attached to its end. The shape of the plates 9 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is such as to provide two limiting edges 16 and 17, at its upper end, said edges being approximately at right-angles to each other, and a long extension 18 whose Aaxis is about midway between the said edges 16 and 17. The end pin 1() is positioned near the end of the said extension 18 and the axis of the pivots 13 is near the intersection of the two said edges 16 and 17. The cam pin 11 is positioned near the edge 16 at such a point that when the lever passes from the position in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the said pin 11 passes beyond the vertical line under the pivots 13 (see dotted lines in Fig. 2), and when it is in this position the edge 17 engages the lower surface of the In order to thus draw out the leaves board 4 and prevents its further movement and therefore holds the table top 5 in its raised position.

Two top-lifting levers are pivotally supported from the under side o't the board 4, one on each side of the'said operating lever (Figs. 5 and't), and are positioned so 'that their actuated ends pass each other,` side by side, and the upper edge of each engages` under the above describedcam pin 11, by which they are moved, the said lever ends passing between the above described plates 9 forming the operating lever (Fig. 8). Each such lever comprises a longitudinal arm 19, pivoted at 20 between the pair yof lugs 21, securedv to the under side of the central board 4; and a pair of branch arms 22 formed in extension of the arm 19 and bent upward attheir e'nds. Each arm 22 is provided with a roller 23, engaging the under side of the table top 5. rEhe branch arms 22 are spread apart and operate through notches 24 in the side edges of the board 4, one on'each side of the center line of the table top 5.

Then the operating lever is in the vposition shown in Fig. 1, its pin 11 is close to the board A4 and it therefore permits the top 5 to press the rollers 23 down to their lowest position. But, when it is turned by pulling the knob 15, the cam 11 l'orees the ends oiE the two arms 19 down and therefore raises the four rollers 23 and the top 5. Since the four rollers 23 are substantially symmetrically arranged in relation to the two central axes of the table top 5, it is evident that they hold the top practically level as they lift it, and since the cam pin 11 has passed the central position (Fig. 2) but cannot turn further, because of the edge 17 as above described, it is evident that the table top 5 will be held in this elevated position without having to hold-y the knob 15. lli/Then' 'the operator has completed arranging the e2:- tension leaves 7 as desired, he pushes in on the knob 15 until the cam pin 11 has passed back under the pivot 15 and then p the Vweight oli' the table top 5 acts through the four rollers 23, the branch arins'22, and the two longitudinal arms 19 to return the operating lever, rod 14 and knob 15 to their primary positions, and this action may he retarded, 1t' desired, by resisting the pull 'on the knob 15.

vextending under the center oit the table Atop a pair of lifting levers pivoted to said board in reversed positions, the outer ends of each said lever being provided with two Vseparated npward-acting branches engaging the under side of said table top, and the inner ends extending adjacent each other; a 'forcing lever pivoted to the under side of said board' and simultaneously engaging the inner ends of both said lifting levers to raise all four o1 said branches, whereby said table top is raised in level position; and operating means engaging and actuating said forcing lever.

THOMAS TALL 

